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Dhoni, who will be 44 years old in July, plays his 18th consecutive IPL season
While the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 takes place, all eyes are on MS Dhoni who continues to command the status of superstar in Indian cricket despite his retirement from international cricket in 2020.
Dhoni continues to be a key figure in the richest cricket league in the world.
Next to him are veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Pace Bowler Jasprit Bumrah and emerging stars like Shubhman Gill, Yashaswi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. They are among the players who led India to two ICC titles in the last nine months – the T20 World Cup in June and the Champions Trophy last month.
However, it is Dhoni who always attracts unrivaled attention, with his leadership and his presence in the league which continue to captivate fans.
The cricket player, who will be 44 years old in July, plays his 18th consecutive IPL season, 16 of them representing Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He is the oldest player in the tournament this year, but not the oldest to have played in IPL.
Australian Spin Bowler Brad Hogg was 45 years and 92 days in his last time played in the IPL in 2016, representing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The Pravin Tambe Leg Spinner, the oldest beginner at 41 years and 212 days for the Royals of Rajasthan, played his last match in 2019 at 44 and 219 days, capping an amazing career.
It remains to be seen if Dhoni will exceed Tambe and Hogg. There are three seasons, when he abandoned Captain CSK, his retirement seemed imminent. Last year, his rare appearances suggested the same thing. However, CSK used the retention clause in IPL MEGA Auction to keep Dhoni for the 2025 season as a non -capped player, taking into account his absence of five years of international cricket.
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Dhoni remains a big draw with fans after retirement from international cricket
In 18 IPL seasons, Dhoni scored 5,243 points, placing it sixth on the list of races of all time, currently at the top of Kohli.
His 39.12 career stick average is higher than Rohit Sharma and Kohli, and only follows David Warner (40.52) and AB de Villiers (39.70) among players with more than 5,000 points in the League.
Among the players with more than 5,000 points, the Dhoni strike rate of 137.53 ranks behind Villiers (151.68) and Warner (139.77).
In six years, Dhoni (252) only follows Gayle (357), Sharma (280) and Kohli (272).
These striking statistics highlight only one aspect of the prowess of Dhoni. As a counter, he has 180 layoffs (141 catches, 39 strains), a record unrivaled by anyone. His quick reflexes and skillful gloves have earned him the nickname “Pickpocket” of former Indian coach Ravi Shastri.
The “helicopter stroke”, a film played on the middle of the counter with a wrist of the bottom hand, has become the signature of its shine in the stick.
The other notable aspect of his strike was his ability to control the match, taking the deep sleeves, practically at the end, with a remarkable control of the nerves and interspersed with explosive blows. He also ran like a hare between the counters, which makes him the best winner of the administration of India during his early years.
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Dhoni ran like a hare between the counters, which does it
Dhoni holds the record for most IPL matches as captain (210) and most victories (123), leading CSK to five IPL titles and two titles of the Champions League.
He also capitalized India at three ICC titles: the T20 World Cup (2007), the ODI World Cup (2011) and the Champions Trophy (2013).
In addition, its impact on the test cricket is huge, having played 90 tests and guiding India to the ICC No1 ranking before its sudden retirement in the middle of the series in 2014-15.
The former Indian captains Sunil Gavaskar and Shastri have often greeted him as the best cricket player in India. Although this is open to the debate, that Dhoni belongs to the same cluster as Gavaskar, Sachin Tresulkar and Kapil Dev is now widely recognized.
So what is the current season for him?
The advanced age has wreaked havoc on Dhoni, although it remains mentally hard and very competitive. Last season, he moved away from his role as a finisher, which he had occupied since the creation of the League, and adapted his approach to provide precious cameos that could have an impact on the result.
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Dhoni holds the record for most IPL matches as captain and most victories, leading CSK to five titles IPL
With the impact player’s rule – which allows teams to choose an additional specialized striker or specialized launcher depending on the game situation – now an integral part of the IPL, Dhoni could well settle in this role, while continuing to be a resonance box for the captain and the mentor of the team in an unintegrated informal manner.
For CSK, keeping Dhoni in the team is obvious. Its attraction goes beyond CSK fans, offering massive trade and brand advantages both to the franchise and to the IPL. As CSK says, an IPL without Dhoni is “unthinkable”.
This can limit opportunities for young players, Indians and abroad, but delighted Shastri rejects this argument. “The league operates on free market dynamics. The franchise owners are not sentimental – they know what suits them best, on and out of the field,” he said.
Meanwhile, the former opener of India Robin Uthapppa, who played under Dhoni for India and the CSK, warns his competitors: “Notice Dhoni at your own risk. We could always see an old magic.”
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